Tasman District homeowners can expect a 2.3 per cent rates rise in the coming year but individual property owners can expect to see a "range of changes in their next bills”.
In September 2017 Quotable Value carried out a revaluation of the capital value of properties in Tasman District. The average increase in capital value was 22%. The valuation does not change the Council’s rates income. However, it does change the way rates are distributed across properties.
Mayor Richard Kempthorne says the council has worked hard to constrain rates increases but Council was aware individual ratepayers would experience a range of changes in their next bills because of the combined effect of Tasman’s capital value rising 22% in the 2017 revaluation and the Council’s decisions on its Long Term Plan 2018 – 2028 (LTP)
"I think the level of rates income increase is a good result for our District, particularly given the large-scale investment in infrastructure needed over the next 10 years to support a growing population and meet the District’s drinking water supply and quality challenges.”
If you think of the Council’s rates income as a pie, the revaluation does not increase the size of the pie. However, an individual ratepayer’s slice of pie may get smaller or bigger, depending on whether their property increased by more or less than the 22% average.
The overall rates increase will help deliver improved drinking water supplies, investment in transportation, stormwater and wastewater to cater for growth and development, and funding for community facilities such as the Motueka Library and Tasman-based visitor information centres.
An analysis of sample property types in Tasman showed rates changes ranging from 12% decreases up to 12% increases. It is likely a small number of property owners will experience higher decreases or increases.
Richard said the Council was very aware of the significant effect on some people’s rates that had arisen from the combination of the revaluation and LTP decisions.
"We’ve tried to temper that as much as we can by keeping our overall spending programme within strict constraints. However, there are some significant challenges facing our District that the Council has to tackle, including the need to provide new or upgraded infrastructure for our growing community and to ensure we continue to provide safe, secure drinking water for our residents and businesses.
"Your rates are an investment in the current and future wellbeing of the place you live. They are your contribution towards ensuring we continue to enjoy a happy, healthy and prosperous District.”
Rates bills for the 2018 – 2019 financial year will be sent out to property owners in August.
